Brandon to Bishop Auckland Railway Path

Brandon to Bishop Auckland Railway Path Total length: 9 miles (14.5km) Grid Reference for main access points: Broompark (north end): What is special? NZ 250 415 Brancepeth (Wolsingham Rd): The line was built mainly to carry coal and coke and closed to passenger traffic in 1964. It is NZ 219 382 now a route enjoyed by both people and wildlife. All along the line you will see a host of Hunwick (Station Road): birds including chaffinch, blue tit, blackbird, kingfisher and kestrel. On an evening listen for NZ 198 326 the hooting of owls. In sunny glades butterflies such as peacock and comma feed on Bishop Auckland Newton flowering plants and nettles. You may also spot the red bushy tail of a fox or, more likely, smell Cap Viaduct (south end): NZ 205 306 it’s strong musty odour. Access also at Langley Moor, Broompark is an ideal starting point with its woodland walks, large picnic area and plentiful Brandon, Willington, parking. A new route has been created which minimises the steep drop down to the river. Sunnybrow and various Public zoom Rights of Way New ponds and wildflower meadows have also been created. As you cross the footbridge in Map: Ordnance Survey keep an eye out for movement in the River Deerness, it may well be an otter. Explorer 305 and 308 © Crown Copyright and database right 2008. Ordnance Survey 100049055 Waxwings, with their distinctive reddish-brown crest, have been seen at Brancepeth. They are Directions: winter visitors and feed on the berries, which are in abundance on the hawthorn trees lining Broompark Follow A690 Durham to Crook road. Turn at Stonebridge the Railway Path. Brancepeth Station was part of a 19th century estate village which was roundabout onto B6302 to Ushaw Moor. Entrance is signed ½ mile on left created to improve the approach to Brancepeth Castle. Brancepeth Follow A690 Durham to Crook road to Brancpeth village. Turn onto Wolsingham Road (opposite Brancepeth Castle). Entrance is The section between Willington and Sunnybrow is urban and the route is less obvious. 350m on left and signed from the road Follow the blue signs through the streets until you reach countryside once more. At Hunwick Located between A690 at Willington and A689 near Toronto. Sunnybrow there are deep wooded ravines with rushing streams. Look out for jay and Take B6286 to Hunwick village. At the junction turn onto Station Road kestrels. At Rough Lea a missing bridge causes the Railway Path to dive and twist to get back and entrance is approximately ½ mile on the right on course. Shales and clay were dug here for brick making. There were six brickworks in a Newton Cap Viaduct From Bishop Auckland follow the A689 towards Crook. Entrance is on the right and is signposted 200m from the end of four mile stretch of the valley downstream from Hunwick. Newton Cap Viaduct Parking: Car parks at Broompark (two disabled bays), Brancepeth, Hunwick and Newton Cap Viaduct more info... Public transport: Broompark, Relly Farm (Arriva 43), Brancepeth (Scarlet Band 47, 47a), Willington (Arriva 46, SB Travel 109), Hunwick (SB Travel 109), Bishop Auckland (numerous services to bus and train stations) Dogs: Allowed under control. Please clean up after your dog Designation: Railway Path, UK Woodland Assurance Scheme certified Contact the Countryside Service Suitable for: Walkers, cyclists, horse-riders, wheelchair users telephone: 0191 372 9100 Habitats: Grassland, scrubland, woodland and wetland email: [email protected] www.durham.gov.uk/countryside Whilst every effort has been made by Durham County Council to ensure accuracy of information, the Council cannot accept any liability resulting from omissions or inaccuracies. Brandon to Bishop Auckland Railway Path

Kestrel As you approach Bishop Auckland, there are superb views of Auckland Castle, the residence of the Bishop of Durham since the 12th century. The route ends at Newton Cap Viaduct. In 1995 the viaduct became a road carrying traffic across the River Wear and it is thought to be the first example of such a conversion. If you wish to keep away from the traffic, continue from the car park along a bridleway under the viaduct until you reach the 14th century Skirlaw Bridge then turn left over the bridge to reach Bishop Auckland town centre . Accessibility Statement This 9 mile linear walk gently rises from Broompark to Bishop Auckland and is relatively flat along its entire length. There are several steep gradients where bridges once stood but only Fox those which are particularly steep have been noted on the map so you are advised to also look at the route profile. The path is mainly a hard, unsealed surface with some large stones and loose material on some of the slopes. There are short sections of tarmac. The path width is between 1.8 and 3 metres. There are a number of seats along the route and picnic Otter tables at Broompark and Newton Cap.

Blue Tit

Kingfisher back

Photographs: I Henry, www.northeast wildlife.co.uk Brandon to Bishop Auckland Railway Path

ft 1600 800 0 miles: 12345678 Broompark Brancepeth Hunwick Newton Cap Map 1

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Bishop Auckland back Brandon to Bishop Auckland Railway Path Map 1

B KEY 63 Broompark 02 Picnic Area Picnic Area To Durham A690 378m Seat S lee 1.2m Steep Slope Up 1:10-1:1 tbu rn La ne y a Steep Slope Down 1:10-1:1 W 40m d n Parking la ga p1.5m k c u X A Disabled Parking p o h Langley is Bus Stop B to ga p1.6m Moor n o Direction of Travel d X n a r B zoom Hard Unsealed Surface out Road/Tarmac Road Crossing S Littleburn X

i S o Sports Concrete Footbridge a n w Centre m R i o ll a L d an Meadowfield Brandon e path crosses lane Xga p1.6m Xga p1.5m

28m

0 9 6 A

back to Crook A690 N 0 500m (approx) 1/4 mile

Scri pton Hil KEY l Rd Morley Wood PH Picnic Area X to ay ga p1.4m Seat ndon d W Bra klan Auc Bishop Medium Slope Up 1:20-1:10 58m To Durham X A690 Medium Slope Down 1:20-1:10 Brancepeth Station ga p1.4m 39m Picnic Area Parking ga p1.4m X Bus Stop Brancepeth x2 Direction of Travel Hard Unsealed Surface

zoom X Road Crossing Brancepeth Castle out and remains of Castle

32m ga p1.5m Stockley X Bridge

27m 0 9

N to Crook A690 0 500m back (approx) 1/4 mile

Steep Slope Up 1:10-1:1

Medium Slope Up 1:20-1:10 Bus Stop Xga p1.2m Direction of Travel Xga p1.5m Hard Unsealed Surface ga p1.6m Hard Sealed Surface Willington X A690 Hig h S to Durham Road/Tarmac tre et A6 90 X Road Crossing zoom out library X C om me rci to Crook A690 al S Xga p1.10m t

Sunnybrow X

8 2

e 40m

n N

L 0 500m

k (approx) 1/4 mile c i 39m back w

u H Xga p1.6m

Steep Slope Down 1:10-1:1 Hunwick Medium Slope Up 1:20-1:10 gap 1.5m X Steps Up S d tation Roa Bus Stop Direction of Travel

6 Hard Unsealed Surface 28 B6 zoom out Hard Sealed Surface

gap 1.5m Road/Tarmac

B Road Crossing

r X a

i s h VINOVIA o p ROMAN FORT A

B c 6 k l 2 a 8 n A689 6 d to Crook W a l k

38m ga p1.3m 33m Toronto Newton Cap N ga p1.2m Picnic Area 0 500m back (approx) 1/4 mile x10 to viewing platform A689 to AUCKLAND Bishop Auckland CASTLE Newton Cap Viaduct © Crown Copyright and database right 2007. Ordnance Survey 100049055